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Everything posted by Robberbaron
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Would be nice to have a set of those in scale again. At least I don't think there's a currently available kit with that style - correct me if I'm wrong. Always nice to have one more alternative to Torq-Thrusts and Cragars.
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Foresight Ventures made the Indy 500, along with a couple other similar styles. Stolen from the H.A.M.B.:
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I believe the currently available "Revell" 1/24 Ramcharger kit was molded in the USA. Of course, with the monumental body warpage problems with that one, it didn't help make the case for American quality control...
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I always thought the Monogram 1970 Buick GSX kit had very well done headlights, complete with the T3 triangle in the center. Of course, being a 1/24 kit, they might not be adaptable for most 1/25 kits. Plus technically I believe they're only appropriate for GM vehicles through 1972.
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'74 Vega Bruce Larson USA-1_FYI Reissue Update
Robberbaron replied to 69NovaYenko's topic in Car Kit News & Reviews
Actually, that body is correct for the '78 Monza S, which really was nothing more than the Vega hatchback body with the nose from the new Monza wagon installed. Turns out that the 1978 Monza S was a pretty rare bird in 1:1, most estimates guess that there were only about 2,000 made. The common theory is that Chevy had left over Vega hatchback bodies after the 1977 model year was through, and didn't want to scrap them. They'd already decided to kill the Vega nameplate, so they decided to slap the new front end on the old Vega bodies and christened it the Monza S. The Vega wagons sold well enough that Chevy decided to continue producing them after killing off the Vega name. They designed a new nose that was similar to the standard Monza (non 2+2 Sport) front end, but would mate up to the old Vega fenders and hood. I believe (based on eyeballing) that the front bumper, the grill, and the headlight bezels are all the same as the standard Monza coupes, but the wagon header panel drops lower between the headlights compared with the standard Monza piece, in order to match the contours of the old Vega hood. The leading edge of the fenders on a Vega (and Monza wagons) is at an angle, whereas the fenders on "true" Monzas have a completely vertical leading edge. Chevy did a very good job of facelifting these wagons in '78. At a glance it looks like the front end from a Monza wagon (or the '78 Monza S) would bolt on to one of the standard Monza coupes, but they are in fact quite different. I realized this after kicking around the idea of grafting the nose from a "Twister Vega" kit (actually the Monza S, of course) onto an MPC Monza 2+2 Sport body to make a standard Monza 2+2. The more I researched it, the more I realized it would be much more involved than I first thought. Besides having to tweak the nose to look right, standard (non Sport) Monzas also have a unique hood that's different from the Sport models (has a hood bulge somewhat similar to the Vega, but not the same) -
78 CHEVY SHORT BED
Robberbaron replied to plasticfrog's topic in Model Trucks: Pickups, Vans, SUVs, Light Commercial
Really nice all around - clean build, great colors, nice subtle wheel choice. -
Modelling Oddities/Mistakes
Robberbaron replied to NY Modeler's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
Yeah, I have one of the '68 Camaro Street Machines (molded in dark blue, custom only) that I bought at a swap meet that has the molded-in mirror. That was before the reissues were available, so at the time I was happy to get it, despite that quirk. Yes the currently available Crew Chief Blazer has mismatched 5 and 6-lug wheels. I didn't notice it at first, but someone else pointed out that AMT also never added the turn signals to the front bumper after they updated the grill for 1971. So out of the box, that kit has no front turn signals. See how long you can drive a 1:1 on the street that way... -
Moebius Models Customer Service?
Robberbaron replied to JUNK-MAN's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
I have bought 6 Moebius automotive kits so far. Only problem I've ever had was that one of them was missing a decal sheet. I emailed their customer service explaining the situation, and they quickly responded. 5 days after they told me they sent it, it was in my mailbox (Florida to Indiana). Doesn't get much better than that. Absolutely no complaints here. -
I'll admit I was a bit gunshy about getting the Belvedere kit after hearing about lots of people.having warp issues. Shortly before Christmas my LHS had a 10% off sale, and I couldn't resist and picked one up. Happy to see that my body is arrow straight. I'll admit the panel lines are very light, but I knew that going in, will just need to rescribe them.
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I also like the snapper better! Nice job. I think Round 2 is missing the bus by not reissuing some of those Snap Fast Plus kits that they did in the '90s. Supposedly, the Revell snappers are money making machines for them. Round 2 could follow the same page using these Vettes, the snap '66 Fairlane, etc. Might even get more of their stuff on the shelves at places like Meijer (ones around here currently carry Revell almost exclusively, except the Polar Lights Ecto 1).
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REALLY nice! It all works together.
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Last Modelhaus Order
Robberbaron replied to unclescott58's topic in Car Aftermarket / Resin / 3D Printed
Great that they are letting people know where they're at in the process. I believe I placed my order right after they opened the site back up in May, so I might be getting mine soon. Trying to not get too giddy. -
While Jesse didn't specifically say, when most people refer to an "AMC 6 cylinder", it's understood to be the AMC-designed straight 6 family of engines that debuted in the mid-sixties, and continued in production for certain Jeeps until about 10 years ago, I believe. This is an inline (straight) 6 design, totally different than the Buick V6. Kaiser-Jeep did buy the rights to the Buick V6, but when AMC bought the Jeep brand, they switched over to the AMC I-6. In fact, I'm not sure if AMC actually bought the rights to the Buick V6. Kaiser Corporation may have retained ownership after they spun Jeep off to AMC. Since Jesse stated that he wants to build a 6 cylinder Gremlin, were definitely talking about the AMC I-6. I agree that the recently reissued MPC Pacer is probably the best choice. The AMT Pacer wagon also has an I-6 (also just reissued), but it doesn't seem quite as nice.
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Question about AMT Color Me Gone 64 Dodge
Robberbaron replied to chriscarroll.ogre's topic in Car Kit News & Reviews
Try this link: http://www.collectormodel.com/amt/3431-amt-model-kits-1964-dodge-330-color-me-gone/#sthash.c2VVnnLd.dpbs Interesting that they're throwing in most of the newly tooled parts from the Lawman Plymouth. Strange thing is that almost all of these parts were already tooled previously by Lindberg for all their different variations of the '64 Dodge. I'm no Mopar expert, but I believe those Plymouth dog dish hubcaps aren't correct for a '64 Dodge. Ironically, I believe the original street stock Lindberg '64 Dodge (the one with the slant 6 option) does have the correct factory hubcaps. -
Terrible Kits You Love!
Robberbaron replied to Chuck Most's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
Hardest thing for me to get past on these Monogram Chevelles is the wacky front grille. The whole appearance is way off from a factory stock '66 Chevelle, especially the raised center area between the headlights. Worse yet, the grille bars in the center section aren't even horizontal! You can even see it on the "Street Rat" box art above, with the red car. Think someone had one too many lunch beers the day they cut the tooling for that grille! Interesting thing is that the black box art car above seems to have a better looking grille, much closer to stock. Wonder if the original 197x issues had a better grille, and at some point the tooling was poorly repaired/reengraved? I can say definitively that the Malibu SS version (molded in black, tunnel ram, Super Trick wheels) that I bought around 1992 has the lousy grille shown on the red car above. I suppose you could argue that it represents a custom tube grille (it's a '70s street machine, after all). Otherwise, blacking out the grille bars would probably help hide a lot of the sins. My original plan was to build something "closer to stock" out of it, but once the Lindberg '66 came out, there was no point in doing that anymore.. -
Last Modelhaus Order
Robberbaron replied to unclescott58's topic in Car Aftermarket / Resin / 3D Printed
Also patiently waiting for my order from May. I'm one of those guys that always thought of ordering from them, but never got around to it until it was "now or never" time. Like many others, I've since thought of several additional items I should have ordered before the final window closed. I'll still be happy to get what I have in the queue, when it's my turn. -
Round 2 January 2017 Product Spotlight
Robberbaron replied to MrObsessive's topic in Car Kit News & Reviews
My older brother also started building glue kits around that time. He built several of the Countdown and Cruisin' USA cars, as well. I remember thinking how cool some of those subjects were, so I was pretty excited when Ertl began reissuing most of them. -
Round 2 January 2017 Product Spotlight
Robberbaron replied to MrObsessive's topic in Car Kit News & Reviews
One additional comment, a 7 to 8 year gap between reissues doesn't seem too unusual, historically speaking. Many of the classic AMT kits that Ertl began to reissue in the mid 1980s were previously available probably about 8 years before in the Countdown and Cruisin' USA series. I remember being happy back then when they reissued the '65 Riviera, I couldn't have cared less that it had been available in the late '70s. Wasn't too happy with the bright yellow plastic, though.. -
Round 2 January 2017 Product Spotlight
Robberbaron replied to MrObsessive's topic in Car Kit News & Reviews
Concur. I often wonder what would happen if, somehow, somewhere, someone found ALL of the classic Johan tooling (long thought destroyed), and then started reissuing all of the long sought Johan kits and X-EL promos. How long would it be before certain folks started complaining that the new company wasn't tooling anything new? Or at the very least, complain about the molded in chassis detail and inaccurate engines in many of those classics. If Round 2 had not ridden to the rescue (what, about 8 years ago?), it seemed very likely that all of the AMT and MPC tooling would end up similar to the Johan situation. And you can bet there would be plenty of people longing for these very kits that are now being panned for being reissued, again. Round 2 purchased the AMT and MPC production rights (and eventually the tooling itself) strictly because of the enormous tooling catalog. They are getting to the point where they are again reissuing some of the kits they put out 7 or 8 years ago. I bet they are choosing those specific kits because they sold well last time. Kits such as the '49 Ford are including additional tampo printed tire options and retooled wheels. And it's not all the "same old reissues". For each of the last several years, Round 2 has also been bringing back kits that haven't been available for 30 to 40 years, such as the Gremlins, Pacers, Squad Rod Nova, and some of the show rods. You might not LIKE what they're reissuing, but you can't honestly state that it's all the same stuff they've been making for the last 30 years. I personally question how well the AMT branded '64 Dodge will sell, for all the reasons already stated. But I also agree that Round 2 is counting on the general public to buy 99% of them, not the lunatic fringe like us (who know better). -
'55 Buick Century sedan..... modified from Maisto police car
Robberbaron replied to traditional's topic in Diecast Corner
I agree, beautiful job on the civilian conversion, and also detailing the police version. I also have a couple of these that I have similar plans for. Chepp is correct regarding the 2-door sedan Century body style. As far as I can tell the main visual differences between the Century and Special 2-door sedans were 4 portholes vs. 3 on the front fenders, and the badges on the quarter panels. Just eyeballing Google images, it looks like the porthole spacing for both models is the same, the Century just has one additional above each front wheel well. I think filing off the front porthole on each of the fenders would result in the correct Special appearance. That's my eventual plan for at least one of mine, along with creating the door trim like you did. As far as I can tell, I don't think there was a wheelbase difference between the 2 models, not positive though. If that's the case, it would be easy enough to bolt a set of Century fenders onto a Special sedan in 1:1, so in my book your blue/white version is easily possible in full scale. (Or just consider that the CHP versions would have been repainted after they were auctioned off for civilian use.) -
I got the recent reissue '75 (?) Dart Sport a year or two ago. Just eyeballing it after I purchased it, but it seemed like the Hemi was quite underscale.
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A Blast From the X-EL Past
Robberbaron replied to StevenGuthmiller's topic in General Automotive Talk (Trucks and Cars)
Wow, this brings back memories! My older brother got these X-EL price lists. I remember looking over it and wishing I had the funds for pretty much all of them. Alas, being in junior high, all my lawn-mowing earnings were already stretched thin purchasing regular off-the-shelf kits. My brother did end up getting several of the ones on this list, including the black/red '58 Olds, the burgundy '57 Olds, and the pink '58 Caddy. Also interesting to seeing which Johan kits were still available at this time. I'm thinking the Rebel Machine and Pro Stock Maverick must have been discontinued shortly after this. I clearly remember having both of those on my "future buy" list around this time, but they disappeared from the LHS shelves before I could get them. -
Revell 30 Model A Ford Production Halted?
Robberbaron replied to Daddyfink's topic in Car Kit News & Reviews
My HL also still has the roadsters, so I picked up a second. My original plan was to buy multiples of the '30 coupe since that had the extra set of Halibrands in it, so in my book it would have been better for the parts trove. But at this point, I'm thinking grab the roadsters while they're still available. My HL also never got the '30 in stock, though they had an open space reserved on the shelf for a few months for it until recently. No way for us to know exactly what parts of the tooling are damaged, but I agree that it would be nice to see them correct some of the shortcomings if they're cutting new tooling for the nailhead (port spacing/headers) and the coupe interior (skeleton interior panels). And if they need to redo the coupe body, PLEASE get rid of that Deuce-style roof insert! I realize that it was a deliberate decision by Revell's design team, but in my book it just makes sense to have a stock style roof. I also realize that this is all probably wishful thinking. Quickest and dirtiest way to get these kits back in production would be to duplicate the existing tooling exactly, which is what I expect will happen... -
Revell 30 Model A Ford Production Halted?
Robberbaron replied to Daddyfink's topic in Car Kit News & Reviews
Doh! 100% correct, for whatever reason I was reading Fury but picturing the Dart.